Apparatus for automatically moistening substances.



Patented Dec. i7, 199:.

3; mm. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTE-NING SUBSTANCES.

(Applicafion filed July 25, 1901.)

(No Model.)

C/ nv e 711 67" n1: norms PEYERS w. PHOTMJYHQ, WAsNINGTON. ln\

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

RUDOLF TIMM, OF HANOVER," GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOISTENING SUBSTANCES SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 689,248, dated December 17, 1901.

Application filed July 25, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLFTIMM, residing at 13 Oberstrasse, Hanover, inthe Kingdom of Prussia, Empire of Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Automatically Moistening Substances, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for automaticallymoistening substances, and has for its object to keep granular,pulverulent, or porous substances continually soaked with a liquid.

This invention is more particularly designed for use in automaticallywatering potted plants and the like, and consists of a receptacle, ofany desired form and material, which contains the liquid and is providedbelow with an outlet-pipe of such a size that the liquid will ooze outonly under the capillary action of the substance to be moistened. In theside of this pipe I arrange an outletorifice in order that it may notbecome obstructed on the pipe being inserted into the substance. Itswidth and shape are such that after the receptacle has been filled theliquid will not pass out in the open air, but will leave only graduallyafter the insertion. A stop is provided on the pipe to determine thedepth of insertion, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented several constructionalforms of the improved apparatus.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 are longitudinal sections, and Fig. 4 a sideelevation thereof, Figs. 1, 3, and 4 being intended to illustratevarious forms of bodies and outlet-pipes, and Fig. 2 the completedevice.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l the receptacle has the shape of abottle, the neck of which is provided laterally with an outletorifice a.This orifice is of such a shape and size that after the filling thewater will not fiow out on the bottle being turned upside down, but willooze out only after the insertion of the neck into the earth inproportion to the receptivity of this earth. The place of the wateroozing out is taken by air, which Serial No. 69,703. (No model.)

penetrates through the pores of the earth and rises in the form oflittle bubbles through the,water. If the temperature of the room risesor the suns rays act upon the bottle, the air contained in the bottleexpands and forces out more water in accordance with the greater needs.It is expedient to make the bottle of transparent material, so as toen-- able the level of the water to be observed. When the apparatus isemployed for water ing potted plants, it renders the watering by handsuperfluous, because it conducts the moisture to the plants according toexigencies, and such plant will not therefore be damaged by receivingtoo much or too little water.

In the arrangement represented in Fig. 2 the neck of the receptacle isfurnished with a bulge Z2, which bears against the surface of the earthand prevents the neck being in-' serted too far. It serves at the sametime to close up the earth which mayhave been opened by repeatedinsertio'ns. This may also be obtained by tapering the pipe toward theoutlet. Fig. 3 represents a similar bulge b with the outlet-pipe tapereddownward.

The receptacle may bear inscriptions, such as names of plants, and mayhave any desired external shape. Thus Fig. 4 shows the receptacle in theform of a crystal.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

A plant-watering device comprising a main hollow body having a taperinghollow neck depending from its lower side adapted to be inserted in theearth, said neck being closed at its point and provided with a lateralopening near said point, and being distended at a point near the body toform a peripheral bulge to serve as a stop to limit its insertion intothe earth, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 11th day ofJuly, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLF TIMM. Witnesses:

CHARLES .0. STEVENSON, Lnononn RAsoH.

